A fixed-base operator at the Billings, Mont., airport has received a notice of unlicensed operation from the Federal Communications Commission.
At the Billings-Logan International Airport, Beacon Air Group provides services such as aviation fuel, aircraft ground handling and aircraft parking as part of its Fixed-Base Operator support.
FBOs commonly operate aeronautical radios to coordinate ground services with arriving and departing aircraft.
But the Denver office of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau received a complaint of an unlicensed station operating in the VHF aircraft band on 128.825 MHz at the airport.
(Read the FCC’s notice of unlicensed operation.)
The station was causing interference with an entity licensed at the same location, according to the Enforcement Bureau.
On Aug. 7, an agent from the Denver office spoke with a representative of Beacon and the bureau confirmed that Beacon operated radios on 128.825 MHz as part of its fixed-base operator support at the airport.
But the commission’s records showed no license issued to Beacon for operating on the frequency there.
Beacon’s website lists its ARINC frequency at Billings as 128.82 MHz. A search of the FCC’s ULS database shows no records in Montana on either frequency.
The Enforcement Bureau warned that operating radio transmitting equipment without authorization is a violation of federal law and could subject Beacon to monetary fines and seizure of the equipment.
The transmissions must cease immediately, and Beacon has 10 days to respond to the commission with any evidence that it had the authority to operate.
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